In a world where attention spans are shrinking, but the appetite for compelling stories becomes insatiable, the short screenplay stands tall in the face of brevity. This world was— believe it or not— 2008. Fast forward almost 17 years later, the fact is more relevant than ever. Writing a short film is a craft that requires discipline, an engaging point of view, bucketloads of Reddit “research” rabbit-holes and heart. For over 5 years the Canadian Short Screenplay Competition has celebrated this art form, and with our return, we reaffirm our timeless belief that: Short. Is. Better.

And I’ll tell you why.

Short films have always been a proving ground for screenwriters. They also happen to be the most accessible entry point for an aspiring scribe to get their words from the land of what-if-and-make-believe to being produced and enjoyed by audiences around the world.

Gordon Pengilly.

Daniel Audet.

Suri Parmar.

David Carey.

Jesse and Zachary Herrmann.

It has been an honour and privilege to make the remarkable journey from script-to-screen for these five short films in the name of these incredibly talented screenwriters. And we hope to produce many more short film scripts to come and in equally as hopeful growing number and frequency.

The return of the CSSC is not just a relaunch; it’s a reaffirmation of the importance of short storytelling in a world that desperately needs meaningful narratives. For aspiring screenwriters, this is your moment to join the ranks of Gordon, Daniel, Suri, David, Jesse and Zachary.

Whether you’re revisiting an old idea, or crafting something entirely new, let this competition be your platform to shine.

As we embark on this exciting new chapter, as we have done in the past, we continue to invite writers from around the globe to join us in celebrating the art of short storytelling. I encourage you to submit your screenplay, share your story, share your voice and be part of the CSSC’s enduring legacy.

Because some stories don’t need a lot of time to leave a mark. Short. Is. Better. And it always will be.

— David Cormican, CSSC Founder

PS. Happy #WriterWednesday #WW